On 3rd July 2024, Aminan Rahman, 46, was found guilty by a unanimous jury at the Old Bailey of murdering Suma Begum, 24, in a flat in east London on 29th April last year, in what IKWRO – Women’s Rights Organisation believes to be a so-called “honour” killing.
Aminan committed the “honour” killing in front of their two children, then aged four months and two years. Suma’s online boyfriend, who was the same age as her, also witnessed the murder via video link. After strangling Suma with a scarf, Aminan was captured on CCTV throwing her body into the River Lea in a suitcase. Her body was found ten days later.
Suma married Aminan in 2019 in an Islamic ceremony via telephone from Bangladesh before joining him in the UK, where he has lived for 20 years. Suma had been unhappy in her marriage and expressed her desire to leave, which both her husband and her family would not accept.
Aminan failed to show remorse, claiming that he had acted in defence of the older child. This claim was rejected by the prosecution. This was not the first “honour” based abuse attack; Aminan is accused of attacking Suma Begum in February 2023. He has been remanded into custody and is due to be sentenced on 31st July 2024.
Diana Nammi, Executive Director, IKWRO – Women’s Rights Organisation says:
“IKWRO is devastated to hear of the “honour” killing of Suma Begum, a young woman who should have had her life with her young children before her. Instead, her life has been taken, and her children have lost their mother and been exposed to extreme trauma.
We welcome the unanimous murder conviction of Aminan Rahman, who could not accept that his wife wanted to leave him and committed the ultimate crime. As is common in “honour” killings, he showed no remorse and had previously committed “honour” based abuse against Suma. There is never any justification for violence in the name of so-called “honour”.
More sustainably funded community engagement is essential to tackle the ideologies that motivate “honour” killings and “honour” based abuse and to ensure that anyone at risk knows that they and their children have the right to be safe and can access services like IKWRO for support.”
If you or anyone you know is experiencing “honour” based abuse or domestic abuse, you are not alone. Contact IKWRO on 0207 920 6460 or call 999 in an emergency.